Chilled by an Eerie Feeling, She Turned Around..."A Monkey in the Yard" Startles Residents in Japan

156 Monkey Sightings Reported in One Month
"Do Not Turn Your Back if You Encounter a Monkey"

Residents in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, are increasingly anxious as monkey sightings continue to occur. Although there have been no reports of injuries so far, incidents such as monkeys grabbing children's legs have raised concerns about potential accidents, prompting local authorities to strengthen their vigilance.

According to reports from the Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources on May 8, the Shunan Police Station announced that a total of 156 monkey sightings had been reported from April through the previous day. Fortunately, there have been no injuries, but the monkeys are reportedly becoming increasingly bold in their behavior.

The photo is unrelated to any specific expressions in the article. Pixabay

Encounters between residents and monkeys during daily life are also increasing. A 62-year-old woman living in Shunan City said she encountered a monkey in her yard on April 9. She recalled, "I got out of my car and felt like someone was watching me. When I turned around, there was a monkey in the yard. It was truly frightening. I never imagined there would be a monkey in my own yard."

On April 17, at around 3 p.m., a monkey approached an elementary school child and their mother from behind and grabbed the child's leg while they were walking down the street. There were additional reports of a monkey following another elementary school student and of a student bursting into tears after being startled by a monkey roaming the streets. The Shunan Police Station also received other reports, such as "While looking at my smartphone, something touched my thigh," "It clung to my leg," and "It touched my shoulder."

The monkey currently being sighted is estimated to be about 50 cm in length and, based on its solitary behavior, is believed to be the same individual. The monkey has reportedly been wandering through urban areas bordering the mountains, jumping onto residents' cars, and roaming around residential neighborhoods.

An elementary school near a major area of sightings has advised students, "If you encounter a monkey, do not make eye contact." The school has also taken measures to keep windows as closed as possible to prevent the animal from entering the building.

Experts have advised people to avoid unnecessary contact with monkeys and to maintain distance. Koshiro Watanuki, Director of Planning and Public Relations at Japan Monkey Centre, explained, "It is highly likely that this is a young male that has separated from its troop. It is important to remove fruit trees or food waste that could be a food source, to prevent the monkey from settling in the area." He added, "If you encounter the monkey, do not turn your back and run. Instead, slowly back away to maintain distance."

Local authorities are also taking steps to prevent further incidents. Shunan City stated, "We would like to capture the monkey before anyone gets hurt," and has installed box traps in two areas where sightings are frequent. In addition, in cooperation with the police, patrols using police cars and public announcement vehicles have been increased during the hours when students return home from school.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.